Duke's Mason Plumlee drives to the basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Virginia Tech, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013, in Blacksburg, Va. Duke won 88-56. (AP Photo/Don Petersen)

It was quite a final game Cassell for Curry and quite an improvement from his first college game in the building two years ago. As a sophomore in 2011, Curry missed his only two field-goal attempts, going scoreless and fouling out, as Duke lost 64-60.

Last season, Curry made 2 of 7 field goals but hit all six of his free throws for 11 points as the Blue Devils won 75-60 in Blacksburg. But this game, with his dead-eye shooting, offered Virginia Tech one last reminder of what it missed out on when neither Seth nor his older brother, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen, were offered scholarships by the Hokies (11-15, 2-11).

As game day approached, knowing it was the last time Curry would play at Virginia Tech, Krzyzewski talked to Curry about the significance.

“He’s done well most of the time,” Krzyzewski said. “He’s a really good player. So it’s not about making up for anything. I didn’t want him to come in here, with his mom and dad here. It’s a special place. They love Virginia Tech and they should. I said `Just play. Don’t try to do anything different. You’ve been playing great. So just play.’”

About the only down moment for Curry came just before halftime when he was called for a technical foul. Curry drove the lane and had his shot blocked by Jarell Eddie. But Curry ran the ball down it the corner and fired in a 3-pointer as Eddie haplessly chased.

After the ball went in, Curry yelled something to Eddie and was called for the technical foul.

“He said something to me after he blocked my shot,” Curry said. “I said the same thing back to him and I got a tech.”

At Krzyzewski’s insistence, Curry apologized to the referee before the second half began.

“Somebody said something to him but you can’t do that,” Krzyzewski said. “I told him ‘You’re too good of a player to do that.’ But he did it, so he should be punished.”

Duke shot 60 percent in the first half, committing just three turnovers, to blow out the last-place Hokies. The Blue Devils built their first 20-point lead 16 minutes into the game and took a 48-28 lead to intermission.

After Virginia Tech scored the game’s first four points, Curry sank his first two 3-pointers to give Duke a lead it would never relinquish.

Virginia Tech assigned sophomore guard Marquis Rankin to guard Curry. But Rankin picked up two quick fouls and was on the bench before the first official’s timeout.

Curry wasn’t the only Blue Devil to find, and hit, open shots. A Tyler Thornton 3-pointer gave Duke its first double-digit lead at 22-12 with nine minutes left in the first half.

Curry’s fourth 3-pointer of the half put Duke in front 37-17.

Note – For the first time since his right foot injury sidelined him on Jan. 8, Duke senior forward Ryan Kelly is walking without the use of crutches. Kelly is still wearing a protective boot on the foot and has not yet practiced.

But Krzyzewski said the progression away from crutches makes him even more confident that Kelly will return this season.

“We’re more optimistic,” Krzyzewski said. “No timetable, but it’s moving in the right direction. Now we believe we’re going to get him back. It’s just a matter of when.”